Weep-hole drilling

ABSTRACT

A method for creating a weep hole is disclosed. The weep hole is drilled in an uncured, concrete, hollow core structural component having one or more external surfaces and one or more internal surfaces. The weep hole is drilled using a drilling apparatus comprising a drill, a rotating drill bit with an internal fluid passageway, a power source, and a pressurized fluid source. Loose, uncured concrete material deposited near the weep hole on the one or more internal surface as a result of drilling the weep hole is removed by releasing pressurized fluid which flows from the pressurized fluid source, through the drill and the rotating drill bit.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The present patent application claims priority to the provisional patentapplication identified by U.S. Ser. No. 63/018,085, filed on Apr. 30,2020, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates generally to creating a weep hole in afully or partially cured concrete structural component such thatmaterial removed from the concrete structural component due to formingthe weep hole does not interfere with functionality of the weep hole.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A hollow core floor is a precast slab of concrete constructed withmultiple, continuous, interior voids that run the length of the slab.These voids allow the slab to maintain its structural strength whilesignificantly reducing its weight and material requirement. A seriousconcern associated with hollow core flooring is the potential for waterentering and collecting inside these voids. If a significant volume ofwater is able to collect in a void, then the increased weight can causeadditional stresses on the structural members of a building.Additionally, if a void that contains water experiences freezingtemperatures, then the thermal expansion of the freezing water couldcause the slabs to crack and weaken. Even if only a small amount ofmoisture is able to accumulate due to improper ventilation, many healthproblems and damage to building components can occur as a result of thegrowth of mold and bacteria. It is therefore extremely important topermit the escape of water from the interior voids of hollow core floormembers in order to prevent severe and permanent damage to a structure.

In order to avoid these types of problems weep holes are created on thebottom-side of each void to allow water to drain from the void. Theconventional method for creating weep-holes in a concrete structure isto drill a hole using a drill and a masonry drill bit. The drillinglocation should be positioned in-line with the center of the void whilethe concrete is either fully or partially cured. It is desirable todrill the weep hole while the concrete is only partially cured, becausethe concrete will be softer, thus requiring less physical labor andextending the tool life of the drill bit. When creating the weep hole, ahead of a masonry drill bit is positioned in the desired location forthe hole. Power is then applied to a drill which has the masonry drillbit attached. The head of the masonry drill bit cuts the concretematerial, and the flutes of the bit lift the cut material (i.e.,concrete debris) from the hole and deposit the cut material adjacent tothe drilling area. Once the drill bit has passed through the concretematerial and has entered into the core area, the bit is removed, and theweep hole is complete. A major problem associated with theaforementioned method for creating weep holes is that the removedconcrete debris is only displaced directly adjacent to the drillingsurface and oftentimes falls back into the newly drilled hole once thebit is removed. This debris fills or forms a barrier surrounding thenewly drilled hole causing the weep hole to be effectively blocked andineffective. When the weep hole is drilled from within the void whilethe concrete is only partially cured, the partially cured debris mayfall into the newly drilled hole before fully curing. If the partiallycured debris is not promptly removed, then the material may become fullycured in the previously drilled weep hole, requiring additional weephole drilling to remove the material. The conventional methods do notoffer a satisfactory solution for creating a weep hole free from debris.

Thus, a need exists for a device and method for creating a weep hole ina concrete structural component, while ensuring that the debrisresulting from the creation of the weep hole is removed from theimmediate area of the newly created weep hole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Like reference numerals in the figures represent and refer to the sameor similar elements of functions. Implementations of the disclosure maybe better understood when consideration is given to the followingdetailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to theannexed pictorial illustrations, schematics, graphs, drawings andappendices. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of an exemplary drilling apparatusconstructed in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of an exemplary drill bit utilized inaccordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the drill bit of FIG. 1, taken alongthe lines 3-3.

FIGS. 4A-4D are diagrammatic, side elevation views of the drillingapparatus being utilized to form a weep hole in a hollow core structuralcomponent in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIGS. 5A-5F are exemplary diagrammatic perspective views from within avoid of the hollow core structural component showing steps for forming aweep hole substantially free of debris, in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 6 is a logic flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method forforming a weep hole that is substantially free of debris, within ahollow core structural component in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,”“including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, areintended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process,method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is notnecessarily limited to only those elements but may include otherelements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method,article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary,“or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example,a condition A or B is satisfied by anyone of the following: A is true(or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or notpresent) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (orpresent).

In addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elementsand components of the embodiments herein. This is done merely forconvenience and to give a general sense of the inventive concept. Thisdescription should be read to include one or more and the singular alsoincludes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.

Further, use of the term “plurality” is meant to convey “more than one”unless expressly stated to the contrary.

As used herein, qualifiers like “substantially,” “about,”“approximately,” and combinations and variations thereof, are intendedto include not only the exact amount or value that they qualify, butalso some slight deviations therefrom, which may be due to manufacturingtolerances, measurement error, wear and tear, stresses exerted onvarious parts, and combinations thereof, for example.

The use of the term “at least one” or “one or more” will be understoodto include one as well as any quantity more than one. In addition, theuse of the phrase “at least one of X, V, and Z” will be understood toinclude X alone, V alone, and Z alone, as well as any combination of X,V, and Z.

The use of ordinal number terminology (i.e., “first”, “second”, “third”,“fourth”, etc.) is solely for the purpose of differentiating between twoor more items and, unless explicitly stated otherwise, is not meant toimply any sequence or order or importance to one item over another orany order of addition.

Finally, as used herein any reference to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular element, feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with the embodiment is includedin at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in oneembodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarilyall referring to the same embodiment.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a drilling apparatus10 for creating a weep hole 12 (see FIG. 4D) in a hollow core structuralcomponent 14. The drilling apparatus 10 may be used for drilling theweep hole 12 and removing any material debris 16 generated during adrilling process as depicted in FIGS. 4A-4D, FIGS. 5A-5D, and FIGS.6A-6F. Broadly, the drilling apparatus 10 may include a drill bit 20,connected to a drill 21.

Referring to FIG. 1-3, the drill bit 20 may have a shank 22, a neck 23,and a body 24. The shank 22 is shown to have a hex shank, but it shouldbe understood that the shank 22 may be a brace shank, a straight shank,a square shank, a SDS shank, a threaded shank or any other type of shankthat would securely attach the drill bit 20 to the drill 21. The neck 23of the drill bit 20 may have a substantially cylindrical shape, althoughthe shape of the neck 23 can vary. In one embodiment, the neck 23 has adiameter equal to or less than a diameter of the body 24. The length ofthe neck 23 may vary and be dependent upon the dimension of the hollowcore structural component 60.

The body 24 may include a cutting edge 29 configured to cut and removematerial from the hollow core structural component 60, and flutes 25that lift the material debris 16 out of the weep hole 12. The length anddiameter of the body 24 will vary and will be determined by the depthand diameter requirements for the weep hole 12. The drill bit 20 alsoincludes an internal fluid passageway 27 so that pressurized fluid canenter a fluid inlet 26, travel through the internal fluid passageway 27,and exit a fluid outlet 28. The fluid can be a gas or liquid. Forexample, the fluid can be air. The fluid inlet 26 will be located in aposition at or near the shank 22 so that when the shank 22 is firmlyseating in a chuck 32 of the drill 21 the fluid inlet 26 will be fluidlyconnected to a fluid outlet within the drill 21. The internal fluidpassageway 27 may be a generally cylindrical void that extends from thefluid inlet 26 to the fluid outlet 28. The diameter of the internalfluid passageway 27 will be determined based on ensuring that anadequate volume of pressurized fluid is able to flow through theinternal fluid passageway 27 at a specified fluid pressure withoutjeopardizing the structural integrity of the drill bit 20. The fluidoutlet 28 may be located at any location along an external surface ofthe body 24 or the neck 23 of the drill bit 20 so long as the fluidoutlet 28 can direct fluid around the weep hole 12 to remove thematerial debris 16 as described herein. It may, however, be preferableto position the fluid outlet within the body 24 so as to be closer tothe cutting edge 29 to greater control the removal of the materialdebris 16 when releasing pressurized fluid. The size and shape of thefluid outlet 28 may be designed to direct pressurized fluid exiting thefluid outlet 28 in order to maximize the removal of material debris 16located near the weep hole 12.

The drill 21 includes the chuck 32 that is configured to connect to thedrill bit 20, and a motor (not shown) included within a housing 33. Inthe example shown, the drill 21 is powered by electricity, althoughother forms of powering the drill 21 can be used. For example, the drill21 can be a pneumatic drill powered by pressurized fluid. In someembodiments, the drill 21 is portable and adapted to be utilized by anoperator to manually form the weep hole 12. In this embodiment, thedrill 21 includes a handle 34 that can be gripped by the operator. Inother embodiments, the drill 21 is connected to a guide and operated aspart of a larger machine to form the weep hole 12. In some embodiments,the drilling apparatus 10 may include multiple drills 21 connected tomultiple bits 20 that are guided simultaneously (or separately) to formmultiple weep holes 12. In some embodiments, the drill 21 is a hammerdrill, while in other embodiments, the drill 21 is not a hammer drill.

In the example shown, the drill 21 is connected to a power source 40that provides the energy to enable the drill 21 to rotate the drill bit20. The power source 40 may provide power in the form of electric,hydraulic, or pneumatic power. The drilling apparatus 10 includes apower switch 42 that controls the flow of power from the power source 40to the drill 21. Although FIG. 1, depicts the power switch 42 as atrigger switch located near the handle 34, it should be understood by aperson skilled in the art that the power switch 42 does not need to befixed to the drill 21. The power switch 42 may be operated manually inthe form of a push button switch, a toggle switch, a rotary cam switch,a valve, or any other similar device. Alternatively, the power switchmay be operated autonomously by way of computer software instruction.When the power switch 42 is switched on, power from the power source 40is transmitted to the drill 21, causing the drill 21 to rotate the chuck32 and the drill bit 20 in a desired direction. The power switch 42 mayallow regulation of the power being supplied to the drill 21 from thepower source 40 to provide control of a rotational speed and a torquefor the drill 21. Alternatively, the rotational speed and torque of thedrill may be controlled by other mechanisms.

The drill 21 is also connected to a pressurized fluid source 50 thatprovides pressurized fluid to the fluid outlet 28 of the drill bit 20via the drill 21. The pressurized fluid source 50 may be a pressurizedfluid tank or a fluid compressor. The pressurized fluid source 50 mayinclude a pressure regulator capable of providing adjustability of thepressure contained within or released from the pressurized fluid source50. The pressurized fluid source 50 may be connected to the drill 21 viaa hose 51. The drilling apparatus 10 also includes a pressurized fluidactuator 52 that may allow pressurized fluid to flow from thepressurized fluid source 50, to the fluid inlet 26, through the internalfluid passageway 27, and exit the fluid outlet 28. The pressurized fluidactuator 52 may be actuated by electric, hydraulic, pneumatic, or humanpower. For example, the pressurized fluid actuator may be implemented asa valve that is controlled via a trigger that is placed adjacent to thehandle 34, as shown in FIG. 1. When the pressurized fluid actuator 52 isactuated, pressurized fluid from the pressurized fluid source 50 isreleased into the air inlet 26. The drill 21 may have a regulator (notshown) at some location between the pressurized fluid source 50 and thefluid inlet 26 to allow for the control of the fluid pressure that exitsthe fluid outlet 28.

Turning now to FIGS. 4A-4D, an exemplary method of use of the drillingapparatus 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4A, first the drillingapparatus 10 may be positioned so that the drill bit 20 is situated in adirection for drilling with the body 24 of the drill bit 20 at alocation for drilling the weep hole 12 in a hollow core structuralcomponent 14. The hollow core structural component 14 may have one ormore external surfaces 62 and one or more internal surfaces 64 forming acavity 66 in the hollow core structural component 14. In one embodiment,as shown in FIGS. 4A-4D, the hollow core structural component 14 mayhave a first one or more external surface 62 a and a second one or moreexternal surface 62 b. However, it will be understood that the hollowcore structural component 60 may have more or fewer external surfaces62.

The operator may engage the power switch 42 to provide power to thedrill 21 from the power source 40 so that the drill 21 rotates the drillbit 20 in a desired rotational direction 70 and at a rotational speedfor drilling the weep hole 12 through the hollow core structuralcomponent 14. A first directional force 72 a may be applied to the drill21 in a desired direction for drilling the weep hole 12.

As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the first directional force 72 a may beapplied to drive the drill bit 20 to drill from a first one or moreexternal surface 62 a, through the material of the hollow corestructural component 14, through a first one or more internal surface 64a, and into the cavity 66. The drilling process may cause materialdebris 16 from a first drilled hole 65 to be deposited just below thefirst drilled hole 65 and in a general location of where the weep hole12 is to be created.

As depicted in FIG. 4C, the first directional force 72 a may be appliedto drive the drill 21 through the cavity 66, and allow the drill bit 20to drill through a second one or more internal surface 64 b, through thematerial of the hollow core structural component 14, and through asecond one or more external surface 62 b. After the drill bit 20 drillsthrough the second one or more external surface 62 b, the fluid outlet28 may be positioned so that the fluid outlet 28 is proximate to thesecond one or more internal surface 64 b. The pressurized fluid actuator52 may be actuated, causing pressurized fluid to flow from thepressurized fluid source 50, through the hose 51, the internal fluidpassageway 27, and exit the fluid outlet 28 while the drill bit 20continues to rotate in the desired rotational direction 70. Thepressurized fluid actuator 52 may allow the pressurized fluid tocontinue to flow through the drill bit 20, and the drill 21 of thedrilling apparatus 10 and out the fluid outlet 28 until all loose,uncured concrete, material debris 16 is substantially removed from theimmediate area surrounding the weep hole 12. The pressurized fluidactuator 52 should allow pressurized fluid flow while the drill bit 20continues to rotate one or more revolutions to ensure the pressurizedfluid is directed at the material debris 16 about a parameter of theweep hole 12. A second directional force 72 b may be applied to thedrill 21 so that the fluid outlet 28 is moved in and out of the weephole 12. The second directional force 72 b may add a third dimension tothe position of the fluid outlet 28 which may assist with the removal ofmaterial debris 16 proximate to the weep hole 68.

As shown in FIG. 4D, the pressurized fluid actuator 52 may bedeactivated, stopping the flow of pressurized fluid through the drillingapparatus 10. The power switch 42 may also be turned off, cutting offthe power to the drill 21, and stopping the rotation of the drill bit20. A third directional force 72 c may be applied to the drillingapparatus 10 until the drill bit 20 is entirely removed from the hollowcore structural component 14. The result of the process is the creationof the weep hole 12 in the hollow core structural component 14 free ofany material debris 16 that might interfere with the function of theweep hole 12. When the hollow core structural component 14 is not fullycured when the weep hole 12 is formed, then the hollow structuralcomponent 14 may be allowed to cure prior to installation as astructural component in a structure, such as a building, road, or thelike.

FIGS. 5A-5F, illustrates several perspective views from within thecavity 66 of the hollow core structural component 14, showing steps ofan exemplary method for forming the weep hole 12 substantially free ofmaterial debris 16, in accordance with the present disclosure. FIG. 5Ashows the cavity 66 of the hollow core structural component 14 beforethe method has been initiated toward the creation of the weep hole 68.There may be the presence of loose, material debris 16 within the cavity66 along the lower portion of the one or more internal surfaces 64 priorto the drilling process as a result of forming the hollow corestructural component 14.

As shown in FIG. 5B, a force may be applied to the drill 21 in thedirection of the weep hole 12 causing the drill bit 20 to drill throughthe first one or more external surface 62 and the first one or moreinternal surface 64. The drill bit 20 continues to rotate inside thecavity 66 after the weep hole 12 has been formed. Additional materialdebris 16 may collect beneath the first drilled hole 65 as a result ofthe drilling process.

As depicted in FIG. 5C, the force may continue to be applied to thedrill 21 in the direction of the weep hole 12 causing the drill bit 20to drill through the second one or more internal surface 64 and a secondone or more external surface 62. Additional material debris 16 mayaccumulate around the weep hole 12 as a result of the drilling process.

As shown in FIG. 5D, the drill bit 20 may be positioned so that thefluid outlet 28 is proximate to the second one or more internal surface64. The pressurized fluid actuator 52 may be actuated, allowingpressurized air to flow through the internal fluid passageway 27 whilethe drill 21 continues to rotate the drill bit 20. Pressurized fluidexits the fluid outlet 28 with enough force to reposition any loose,material debris 16 a sufficient distance from the weep hole 12. Thefluid outlet 28 may be directed generally perpendicular to the drill bit20 and designed to focus the pressurized fluid exiting the fluid outlet28 away from the weep hole 12. The drill bit 20 may be rotated one ormore revolutions while pressurized fluid is being release from the fluidoutlet 28 to ensure all material debris 16 around the weep hole 12 issufficiently removed from the immediate area. The drill bit 20 may bemoved in and out of the weep hole 12 to assist the removal of materialdebris 16. By moving the drill bit 20 in and out of the weep hole 12,the pressurized fluid exiting the fluid outlet 28 may exert a variety offorces on the material debris 16 that may not be experienced by astationary drill bit 20.

As shown FIG. 5E, the pressurized fluid actuator 52 may be deactivatedso that pressurized fluid is no longer flowing through the drill bit 20and the drill 21 of the drilling apparatus 10. The power switch 42 mayalso be turned off, causing the drill 21 to stop rotating the drill bit20. A force may be applied to the drill 21 opposite of the drillingdirection until the drill bit 20 is removed from the hollow corestructural component 14.

FIG. 5F, depicts the cavity 66 of the hollow core structural component14 once the drill bit 20 has been removed. As illustrated in FIG. 5F,the weep hole 12 is free from any loose material debris 16 that mightinterfere with the function of the weep hole 12.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a drilling method 100 provides an exemplarymethod for forming the weep hole 12 that is substantially free ofmaterial debris 16, within the hollow core structural component 14 inaccordance with the present disclosure. In step 102 of the drillingmethod 100, an operator may identify a desired location to form the weephole 12 in the cavity 66 of the hollow core structural member 14. Theideal location for the weep hole 12 would be the lowest area of the oneor more internal surfaces 64, but may be any location within the hollowcore structural component 14 that would allow moisture to be removedfrom the cavity 66. The desired location for the weep hole 12 may onlybe accessible by first drilling through the opposite side of the hollowcore structural component 14.

In step 104 of the drilling method 100, the cutting edge 29 of the drillbit 20 may be placed at the desired location for the weep hole 12. Thedrill 21 may need to be positioned so that the drill bit 20 will bedriven in the desired direction for the weep hole 12. Next, in step 106of the drilling method 100, the drill 21 may be activated with power tocause the drill bit 20 to rotate, and pressure may be applied to thedrill 21 to allow drill bit 20 to bore the weep hole 12 in the hollowcore structural member 14. The drill 21 will be activated by turning onthe power switch 42 which allows power to be provided to the drill 21from the power source 40. In step 108, pressure may continue to beapplied to the drill 21 until the drill bit 20 has bored the weep hole12. The amount of pressure required may depend on the characteristics ofmaterial of the hollow core structural component 14, the rotationalspeed of the drill bit 20, and the characteristics of the drill bit 20.Depending on the location of the weep hole 12, the drill bit 20 may needto bore a hole in one or more layers of the hollow core structuralcomponent 14 before boring the weep hole 12.

As detailed in Step 110, power may be maintained to the drill 21, whilethe drill bit 20 may be repositioned so that the fluid outlet 28 isproximate to the one or more internal surfaces 64, and the pressurizedfluid actuator 52 is activated to release pressurized fluid form thepressurized fluid source 50. In step 112, power may be maintained to thedrill 21 and releasing the pressurized fluid, while the drill bit 20 isrepositioned in and out of the weep hole 12 until all material debris 16has been removed from the immediate area. By performing this action,pressurized fluid will be released in a 360-degree spray about the drillbit 20 and at various points vertically along a drilling axis within therange of the in and out motion. The pressurized fluid will apply forceson the material debris 16 immediately surrounding the weep hole 12.These forces may cause the material debris 16 to be relocatedsubstantially away from the weep hole 12. In one embodiment, thepressurized fluid actuator 52 should be engaged continuously for atleast one revolution of the drill bit 20 to ensure pressurized fluid isreleased in all directions about the drilling axis.

Lastly, in step 114 of the drilling method 100, Once the areaimmediately around the weep hole 12 has been clear of any loose,material debris 16, power may be shut off to the drill 21, thepressurized fluid actuator 52 may be deactivated to stop pressurizedfluid from flowing from the pressurized fluid source 50, and the drillbit 20 may be removed from the weep hole 12.

While the present disclosure has been described in connection withcertain embodiments so that aspects thereof may be more fully understoodand appreciated, it is not intended that the present disclosure belimited to these particular embodiments. On the contrary, it is intendedthat all alternatives, modifications and equivalents are included withinthe scope of the present disclosure. Thus the examples described above,which include particular embodiments, will serve to illustrate thepractice of the present disclosure, it being understood that theparticulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrativediscussion of particular embodiments only and are presented in the causeof providing what is believed to be the most useful and readilyunderstood description of procedures as well as of the principles andconceptual aspects of the presently disclosed methods and compositions.Changes may be made in the structures of the various componentsdescribed herein, or the methods described herein without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: drilling a weep hole in anuncured, concrete, hollow core structural component, the hollow corestructural component having one or more external surfaces and one ormore internal surfaces, using a drilling apparatus comprising a drill, arotating drill bit with an internal fluid passageway, a power source,and a pressurized fluid source; and removing loose, uncured concretematerial deposited near the weep hole on the one or more internalsurface as a result of drilling the weep hole by releasing pressurizedfluid which flows from the pressurized fluid source, through the drilland the rotating drill bit.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein removingloose, uncured concrete material is further defined as removing loose,uncured concrete material deposited near the weep hole on the one ormore internal surface as a result of drilling the weep hold by releasingpressurized fluid which flows from the pressurized fluid source throughthe drill and the internal fluid passageway of the rotating drill bitwhile the rotating drill bit rotates for at least one full rotation. 3.The method of claim 1, wherein the step of releasing pressurized fluidis defined further as releasing pressurized air which flows from thepressurized fluid source, through the drill and the rotating drill bit.4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of removing loose, uncuredconcrete material is further defined as removing loose, uncured concretematerial deposited near the weep hole on the one or more internalsurface as a result of drilling the weep hold by releasing pressurizedfluid which flows from the pressurized fluid source through the drilland the rotating drill bit while the rotating drill bit is repositionedin and out of the weep hole.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the stepof releasing pressurized fluid is performed until substantially allloose, uncured concrete material is removed from an area immediatelysurrounding the weep hole.
 6. A method of creating a weep hole within ahollow core structural component, the method comprising: obtaining adrilling apparatus comprising: a drill bit having a fluid inlet, aninternal fluid passageway, and a fluid outlet, a power source, apressurized fluid source, and a drill connected to the power source, thepressurized fluid source, and the drill bit; positioning the drillingapparatus so that the drill bit is situated in a direction for drillingwith a cutting edge of the drill bit at a location for a weep hole in ahollow core structural component, wherein the hollow core structuralcomponent has one or more external surface and one or more internalsurface forming a cavity in the hollow core structural component;providing power to the drill from the power source so that the drillrotates the drill bit in a direction and at a rotational speed fordrilling the weep hole through the hollow core structural component;applying a force to the drill in the direction for drilling the weephole; drilling a weep hole in the hollow core structural component bycontinuing to apply the force on the drill while the drill bit cuts andremoves material of the hollow core structural component, until the weephole extends from the one or more external surface through the one ormore internal surface; positioning the drill bit so that the fluidoutlet is proximate to the one or more internal surface of the hollowcore structural component; removing a material debris depositedproximate to the weep hole and the one or more internal surface as aresult of drilling the weep hole by releasing a pressurized fluid fromthe pressurized fluid source, wherein the pressurized fluid flows fromthe pressurized fluid source through the internal fluid passageway ofthe drill bit while the drill bit continues to rotate; and removing thedrill bit from the hollow core structural component.
 7. The method ofclaim 6, further comprising: after applying the force, drilling througha first one of the one or more external surface through a first one ofthe one or more internal surface; wherein drilling a weep hole isfurther defined as drilling a weep hole in the hollow core structuralcomponent by continuing to apply the force on the drill while the drillbit cuts and removes material of the hollow core structural component,until the weep hole extends from a second one of the one or moreinternal surface through a second one of the one or more externalsurface; wherein positioning the drill bit is further defined aspositioning the drill bit so that the fluid outlet is proximate to thesecond one or the one or more internal surface of the hollow corestructural component; and wherein removing the material debris isfurther defined as removing the material debris deposited proximate tothe weep hole and the second one of the one or more internal surface asa result of drilling the weep hole by releasing a pressurized fluid fromthe pressurized fluid source, wherein the pressurized fluid flows fromthe pressurized fluid source through the internal fluid passageway ofthe drill bit while the drill bit continues to rotate.
 8. The method ofclaim 6, wherein releasing a pressurized fluid from the pressurizedfluid source is further defined as releasing a pressurized air from thepressurized fluid source.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step ofremoving the material debris is further defined as removing the materialdebris deposited proximate to the weep hole and the one or more internalsurface as a result of drilling the weep hole by releasing thepressurized fluid from the pressurized fluid source while repositioningthe drill bit at a plurality of locations along the direction fordrilling within the cavity of the hollow core structural component,wherein the pressurized fluid flows from the pressurized fluid sourcethrough the internal fluid passageway of the drill bit while the drillbit continues to rotate.
 10. The method of claim 6, wherein the step ofremoving the material debris is further defined as removing the materialdebris deposited proximate to the weep hole and the one or more internalsurface as a result of drilling the weep hole by releasing thepressurized fluid from the pressurized fluid source at a first pressurefor a first period of time and at a second pressure for a second periodof time, wherein the pressurized fluid flows from the pressurized fluidsource through the internal fluid passageway of the drill bit while thedrill bit continues to rotate.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein thestep of removing the material debris is further defined as removing thematerial debris deposited proximate to the weep hole and the one or moreinternal surface as a result of drilling the weep hole by releasing thepressurized fluid from the pressurized fluid source at a first pressurefor a first period of time and at a second pressure for a second periodof time, wherein the pressurized fluid flows from the pressurized fluidsource through the internal fluid passageway of the drill bit while thedrill bit continues to rotate, and wherein the first pressure isdifferent than the second pressure.
 12. A method comprising: positioninga drill bit in a weep hole of a hollow core structural component, thedrill bit having an internal fluid passageway and a one or more fluidoutlet, wherein the internal fluid passageway and the one or more fluidoutlet are connected such that a pressurized fluid can flow through thedrill bit and exit at the one or more fluid outlet; and removing amaterial debris that is proximate to the weep hole by releasing thepressurized fluid which flows through the internal fluid passageway andexits the one or more fluid outlet while the drill bit is rotated abouta longitudinal axis.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step ofremoving the material debris is further defined as removing the materialdebris that is proximate to the weep hole by releasing the pressurizedfluid which flows through the internal fluid passageway and exits theone or more fluid outlet while the drill bit is rotated about alongitudinal axis at a first pressure for a first period of time. 14.The method of claim 12, wherein the step of removing the material debrisis further defined as removing the material debris that is proximate tothe weep hole by releasing the pressurized fluid which flows through theinternal fluid passageway and exits the one or more fluid outlet whilethe drill bit is rotated about a longitudinal axis at the first pressurefor the first period of time and at a second pressure for a secondperiod of time, the first pressure different than the second pressure.15. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of removing the materialdebris is further defined as removing the material debris that isproximate to the weep hole by releasing the pressurized fluid whichflows through the internal fluid passageway and exits the one or morefluid outlet while the drill bit is rotated about a longitudinal axiswherein the fluid outlet of the drill bit is repositioned between afirst distance from the weep hole along a direction of the longitudinalaxis and a second distance from the weep hole along the direction of thelongitudinal axis.
 16. A method comprising: drilling a weep hole in ahollow core structural component with a drill bit creating materialdebris adjacent to the weep hole; and directing a flow of pressurizedfluid adjacent to the drill bit to remove the material debris fromadjacent the weep hole.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step ofdirecting the flow of pressurized fluid is defined further as directinga flow of pressurized air adjacent to the drill bit to remove thematerial debris from adjacent the weep hole.
 18. The method of claim 16,wherein the hollow core structural component is an uncured hollow corestructural component and wherein the step of drilling a weep hole isdefined further as drilling a weep hole in the uncured hollow corestructural component with a drill bit creating material debris adjacentto the weep hole.
 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the drill bitincludes an internal fluid passageway and one or more fluid outlet, andwherein the step of directing the flow of pressurized fluid is definedfurther as directing the flow of pressurized fluid through the internalfluid passageway and through the one or more fluid outlet of the drillbit to remove the material debris from adjacent the weep hole.
 20. Themethod of claim 16, wherein the step of directing the flow ofpressurized fluid is defined further as directing the flow ofpressurized fluid adjacent to the drill bit at a first pressure for afirst period of time and at a second pressure for a second period oftime.